Review: River Ghosts by B.R. Robb (4.5 stars)

Richard Hill was just eight years old when he watched his parents being brutally murdered by Henry Clayton. But now, sixteen years later, DNA evidence seems to prove conclusively that Clayton is innocent. Returning to Red River Falls, Clayton offers to help Richard find the real killer. But Richard remains convinced that Clayton was the killer, despite the apparent proof provided by the DNA sample.

From this intriguing premise, B.R. Robb spins out a dramatic and deeply involving tale about a man who is forced to confront one of his most basic memories. Both Richard and Clayton are memorable characters, and there moments when the narrative seems set to swing one way, before there’s a dramatic change of direction. The reader is kept guessing long after the point at which most thrillers have revealed all their cards.

There are some deep themes here, with River Ghosts touching on issues of memory and race. As Richard tries to uncover the truth, he begins to doubt whether the truth even exists. If the mark of an expert thriller is that it disturbs and disrupts the reader’s most basic assumptions, then River Ghosts looks to be the real deal: a thriller that explores complex ideas while never forgetting the need to thrill.

Star rating for River Ghosts: 4.5 stars.
> Available from Amazon.
> Rating system: 5 stars (excellent); 4 stars (very good); 3 stars (good); 2 stars (fairly good); 1 star (bad); 0 stars (awful).